Picking a Phlebotomist Training Program near Slaughter Louisiana
Enrolling in the right phlebotomist school near Slaughter LA is an essential initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to investigate and compare each of the training alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In fact, many prospective students begin their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomist training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are researching to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.
Phlebotomy Tech Career Summary
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some phlebotomists actually work in Slaughter LA area labs and are responsible for making sure that samples are tested properly utilizing the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.
Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?
The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including Slaughter LA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.
Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification
There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at Slaughter LA community and junior colleges, they normally require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in the majority of states, many Slaughter LA employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the primary certifying agencies include:
- National Phlebotomy Association
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
- American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
- American Medical Technologists (AMT).
There are some states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.
Online Phlebotomy Colleges
First, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical component of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical option for many Slaughter LA students. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Schools
Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is significant as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. All of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about each of the Slaughter LA programs you are reviewing before making your final decision.
Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Louisiana? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Louisiana or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.
Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the Slaughter LA job market.
What is the Program’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even contact a few Slaughter LA clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Louisiana school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.
Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the Slaughter LA training program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.
Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with Slaughter LA health care facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Slaughter healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Slaughter LA healthcare community.
Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate program you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is particularly true if you decide to continue working while going to college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Slaughter LA, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.
Considering Phlebotomy Training near Slaughter LA?
Slaughter, Louisiana
Slaughter is located along the southern edge of East Feliciana Parish at 30°42′59″N 91°8′40″W / 30.71639°N 91.14444°W / 30.71639; -91.14444 (30.716484, -91.144506).[4] The town is bordered on the south by the city of Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Louisiana Highway 19 passes through Slaughter, leading north 15 miles (24 km) to Wilson and south 20 miles (32 km) to Baton Rouge. Clinton, the East Feliciana Parish seat, is 14 miles (23 km) to the northeast.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,011 people, 359 households, and 286 families residing in the village. The population density was 184.3 inhabitants per square mile (71.2/km²). There were 376 housing units at an average density of 68.6 per square mile (26.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.56% White, 3.56% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 359 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.
Choose the Right Phlebotomy Training Program near Slaughter LA
Making certain that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be offered in a wide range of educational institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program options can differ slightly across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly evaluate and compare each program before making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Slaughter LA.
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